How to Tell if Your Furnace Is Leaking Carbon Monoxide

Gas leaks are hard to identify and can have fatal consequences. Here's an article on how to tell if your furnace is leaking carbon monoxide and how to prevent leaks in the future.
Written by Liliana Pina
Reviewed by Carrie Adkins
Furnaces and other heating appliances leaking carbon monoxide can be fatal, so you need to make sure you have carbon monoxide detectors installed in your home. In case they malfunction, you should also know a few other signs of carbon monoxide leaks.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless, transparent gas often produced by heating systems and equipment found in many households, such as boilers or furnaces.
Learn how to tell if your furnace is leaking carbon monoxide with this guide by car insurance broker app
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How to tell if your furnace or heater is leaking carbon monoxide

The easiest way to tell if your furnace or heater is leaking carbon monoxide is by having carbon monoxide detectors in every level of your home. You will also need to make sure they are operational, as detectors are electronic.
Although carbon monoxide leaks are often difficult to discern due to the nature of the gas, there are a few signs to look for that may indicate an increased amount of carbon monoxide in your home, including:
  • Heavy condensation or water dripping on windows
  • Brownish-yellow stains on your furnace that resemble soot
  • The pilot light in your stove begins to frequently blow out
  • The burner flame on your stove turns yellow instead of blue
  • Lack of an upward draft in chimney flue
  • Damaged heat exchanger, flue pipe, or chimney
  • Unusual odors (air can smell burnt, stale, or overheated)
Additionally, you may notice you or other people in your household experiencing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. These include:
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea/vomiting
  • Disorientation/confusion
  • Chest pain
If you're experiencing any of these symptoms and suspect it's from carbon monoxide, assess the situation and either call the fire department or hire a professional to handle the situation. Carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal.
MORE: How to conduct a home fire safety inspection

How to prevent carbon monoxide leaks

Because it's difficult to identify a carbon monoxide leak or buildup in the air, many homes are equipped with alarms that will alert you if the amount of carbon monoxide in the air reaches dangerous levels. However, there a few additional precautions you can take to help you prevent carbon monoxide leaks in the future.

Get your home’s heating systems inspected annually

You should get all gas appliances, chimneys, vents, furnaces, and any other built-in heating appliances inspected annually.
You’re going to want to trust the professionals for this one, as they will be able to identify small and/or upcoming issues that can be remedied or protected to prevent future damage.

Keep your home well-vented at all times

This means no grills, barbecues, charcoal fuels, or other appliances that release large amounts of smoke indoors. You will also want to get your air ventilation systems inspected annually to make sure everything is functioning properly and up to code.

Change your air filter regularly

You can either do this one yourself or hire a professional, but the most important thing is that it gets done. Be sure to examine your filters regularly to see if they need to be cleaned, replaced, or if they have any suspicious substances on them that may indicate damage within the system.

FAQs

Is my furnace leaking carbon monoxide?

If you are experiencing symptoms of nausea, dizziness, vomiting, fatigue, confusion, or chest pain, you may be suffering the effects of a carbon monoxide leak. If this is the case, you need to get yourself and any other people and pets in the home outside and call your fire department.

Who can fix a carbon monoxide leak?

An HVAC contractor can help you fix a carbon monoxide leak. You can also call a qualified technician. If you leave the house due to a carbon monoxide leak, give your fire department a call, too.
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